The Democratic party, the city’s largest pro-democracy party, failed to secure enough nominations under new rules introduced by authorities
Hong Kong’s leader has defended the rules for upcoming local elections as open and fair, even though an electoral overhaul means the city’s remaining pro-democracy activists won’t be part of the race.
The city’s largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic party, will be absent in December’s district council election for the first time since its establishment in 1994. Party chair Lo Kin-hei said he and other members could not secure enough nominations under the new rules authorities introduced, which are designed to ensure that “patriots administer Hong Kong.” Other smaller groups from the camp had the same problem.To enter the race, candidates have to secure endorsements from at least nine members of local committees that are packed with pro-government figures.
The lack of participation from pro-democracy parties reflects the dwindling space for the movement in the city, after a government crackdown on dissidents following theElections for the district council seats typically draw little international attention as the councillors mainly handled municipal matters, such as organising construction projects and ensuring that public facilities are in order.
But the councils took on importance after the city’s pro-democracy camp won a landslide victory in the last poll at the height of the 2019 protests
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